| John Balasoglou's Sustainability List |
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He has prepared the following 2007 Sustainabilty book list for architects, but they will appeal to anyone doing Tony's Green Architecture CCE Course.
All these titles are available for purchase directly from John at
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You would have to be blind not to realise that sustainability and ESD is with us to stay – it’s no longer a fringe area. As Ian Athfield says, it is an area where architects can become the experts and spokesmen, separating themselves, positively, from other so-called designers. Even Helen has dictated that “Climate Change” is going to become a key issue in the future in New Zealand. It is also pleasing to see that the NZIA Austral Bricks Sustainability Series has hit the road. Michael Thomson, Tone Wheeler and Marshall Cook are travelling the country to spread knowledge and encouragement. I have also been staggered that in the last couple of days I have received numerous orders from one of our previous ESD books mailer. So, here is a bigger and more comprehensive list for you to consider. The first seven are from Tone Wheeler’s recommended reading list – all available from Aalto Books. Others on the list are from previous emails and there are new books on the subject. If you can get anything more comprehensive from anywhere in New Zealand get back to me and I’ll shoot the buggers. Anyway, have a look, think about this subject seriously and make your choices. Have a great and sustainable day. John Balasoglou Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart - $59.95 Published by North Point Press, Nov 2002, paperback, 20.37x12.90cms, 208pages, 0865475873 A manifesto for a radically different philosophy and practice of manufacture and environmentalism. Reduce, reuse, recycle urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimise damage. As William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in their provocative, visionary book, however, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world, they ask. In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are). Elaborating principles from experience designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, the authors make an exciting and viable case for change. Thermal Delight in Architecture by Lisa Heschong - $69.95 Published by MIT, Dec 1979, paperback, 20.37x13.54cms, 94 pages, 026258039X If one pays very close attention, one will experience architecture on many sensual levels. It affects us in ways that are entirely unexpected. The author of this little book picks up on the thermal experience of architecture, and argues that our corporate mania for control of the interior environment has dulled us to the experience of space as a physical experience. In just four chapters, Heschong looks over the thermal history of place, evoking the necessity of a thermal experience across cultural lines. There is the traditional hearth. There are cool gardens in desert cultures. There are modern passive solar houses that connect their occupants to the cycles of warm and cool. And there are historical examples from Japanese baths to Roman baths and Finnish saunas. This is all very interesting, but the key is that the author promotes a subtle line of thought about space and our experience of it. She argues that the thermal environment can be treated with craft as much as the light and space of a building. The book reads a bit as a thesis project, and it feels a touch incomplete, but it is a suggestive bit of thinking about the places in which we all live. Design with Nature by Ian McHarg - $109.95 Published by John Wiley, Feb 1995, paperback, 28.02x28.04cms, 208pages, 047111460X In presenting us with a vision of organic exuberance and human delight, which ecology and ecological design promise to open up for us, McHarg revives the hope for a better world." -Lewis Mumford "...important to America and all the rest of the world in our struggle to design rational, wholesome, and productive landscapes." -Laurie Olin, Hanna Olin, Ltd. "This century's most influential landscape architecture book." –USA Landscape Architecture "...an enduring contribution to the technical literature of landscape planning and to that unfortunately small collection of writings which speak with emotional eloquence of the importance of ecological principles in regional planning." - Landscape and Urban Planning. In the 25 years since it first took the academic world by storm, this book has done much to redefine the fields of landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, and ecological design. It has also left a permanent mark on the ongoing discussion of mankind's place in nature and nature's place in mankind within the physical sciences and humanities. Described by one enthusiastic reviewer as a "user's manual for our world," the book offers a practical blueprint for a new, healthier relationship between the built environment and nature. In so doing, it provides nothing less than the scientific, technical, and philosophical foundations for a mature civilization that will, as Lewis Mumford ecstatically put it in his Introduction to the 1969 edition, "replace the polluted, bulldozed, machine-dominated, dehumanized, explosion-threatened world that is even now disintegrating and disappearing before our eyes." Architecture in a Climate of Change (2nd ed.) by Peter Smith - $99.95 Published Architectural Press, May 2005, paperback, 24.54x18.75, 192pages, 0750665440 Revised to incorporate and reflect changes and advances since it was first published the new edition of Architecture in a Climate of Change provides the latest basic principals of sustainability and the future of sustainable technology. Including new material on wind generation, domestic water conservation, solar thermal electricity as well as international case studies Architecture in a Climate of Change encourages readers to consider new approaches to building making minimum demand on fossil based energy. 1. Offers an insight into the relationship between the physical and cultural context of architecture 2. Discusses the principles of sustainability and the future of its technology. 3. Case studies show the global relevance of the topic. Ecological Architecture: A Critical History by James Steele - $109.95 Published by Thames & Hudson, Oct 2005, hardback, 26.16x23.62cms, 272pages, 0500342105 The great untold story of the architectural history of the past century: the movement toward an ecological approach to building. In a world increasingly awake to environmental damage, the visionaries of the past who championed an environmentally sane architecture are vindicated. Yesterday's eccentricities are today's legal requirements, and every architect has an obligation to the environment as well as to his or her client. This groundbreaking book charts the rise of this new consciousness, assessing the situation now, and identifying future directions. After an introduction to the terminology of ecological architecture, comparing the use of "green" and "sustainable" as variants, the book is organised into three parts. Part 1 identifies recurring themes in ecological architecture, including energy efficiency, harmonious relationship with the environment, and suitability of building types for specific conditions. Part 2 features over 20 case studies focusing on a specific architect, movement, or area. The inclusion of Le Corbusier, Buckminster Fuller, Rudolf Schindler, and others is a reminder that the sweeping science-led progress that characterised much of the modern movement is not the full story. Part 3 looks to the future and to where ecological architecture might go next as it struggles to deal with global urbanization. A decisive step in the rewriting of the history of modern architecture, this book is essential reading for practitioners and students. An urgent wake-up call concerning the state of our built environment, it will be of interest to everyone who cares about the future of our planet. 250 illustrations in colour and black and white. Climate Design by Gerhard Hausladen - $169.95 Published by Birkhauser, Jan 2006, hardback, 30.43x23.42cms, 208 pages, 3764372443 How does the facade design of a building influence climate design? How can planners guarantee flexibility of usage, determine the technical strategy and select from available systems accordingly? How is the maximum comfort for both users and residents to be attained? This volume offers a comprehensive approach to energy efficient building design in addition to providing practical planning aids for a wide selection of building types. In order to realize an integrated planning process, the book examines the interaction between design, climatic requirements (room temperature), and the necessary building technology and equipment, using a large number of international projects as examples. Ritual House: Drawing on Nature's Rhythms for Architecture and Urban Design by Ralph Knowles, Ralph - $69.95 Published by Island Press, Feb 2006, hardback, 25.70x18.69cms, 202 pages, 1597260509 The houses we dwell in, the cities surrounding our houses, even the clothes we wear, these are all shelters we erect against the elements. They are also the embodiment of intuitive rituals, individual and cultural responses to nature's rhythms. Life in the 21st century has separated us from those traditions. Architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USC's School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners; anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analysing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles, Knowles shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical, yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrow's mega-cities. Understanding how the elements affect our lives is more vital than ever. High-energy enclosed building systems have cut us off from nature, but we can re-connect to our landscapes and to humanity through buildings that honour ecological balance, personal choice, and creativity. By engaging nature in our designs, we can create shelters that are unique to their climate, their region, and their relationship to the sun. Tropical Sustainable Architecture: Social and Environmental Dimensions by Joo Hwa Bay & Boon Lay Ong - $109.95 Published Birkhauser, Aug 2006, paperback, 24.64x18.90cms, 292 pages, 0750667974 The tropical belt where large areas of South East Asia, India, Africa and parts of North and South America are located forms the biggest landmass in the world and has one of the highest numbers of rapidly developing cities. Coincidentally, architecture in these regions shares common problems, the most easily identifiable being the tropical conditions of climate and natural environment. The context for architecture here is fraught with conflicts between tradition and modernisation, massive influx of rural poor into urban areas, poorly managed rapid urban development as well as the cultural and social strain of globalisation. Many architects, planners and city fathers are interested in the social and environmental dimensions of these areas that contribute towards short terms solutions and long term sustainable developments. This book, developed from the first conference of the International Network for Tropical Architecture, is a wealth of information from experts worldwide covering the cultural, environmental and technical aspects of thinking, researching and designing for the tropics. * Provides a holistic view of the subject, covering both technical and cultural issues * Includes a variety of tropical case studies by an international team of experts * Essential reading for architects wishing to develop their skills, technology and knowledge of these rapidly changing cities. Ecodesign: A Manual for Ecological Design by Ken Yeang - $189.95 Published by Wiley, Oct 2006, hardback, 21.49x26.77cms, 499pages, 0470852917 Ken Yeang reconstructs and revisions how and why our current design approach and perception of architecture must radically change if we are to ensure a sustainable future. He argues forcefully that this can only be achieved by adopting the environmentalist’s view that, aesthetics apart, regards our environment simply as an assembly of materials (mostly transported over long distances), that are transiently concentrated on to a single locality and used for living, working and leisure whose footprints affect that locality’s ecology and whose eventual disposal has to be accommodated somewhere in the biosphere. The manual offers clear instructions to designers on how to design, build and use a green sustainable architecture. The aim is to produce and maintain ecosystem-like structures and systems whose content and outputs not only integrate benignly with the natural environment, but whose built form and systems function with sensitivity to the locality’ s ecology as well in relation to global biospheric processes, and contribute positively to biodiversity (as opposed to reducing it). The goal is structures and systems that are low consumers of non-renewable resources, built with materials that have low ecological consequences and are designed to facilitate disassembly, continuous reuse and recycling a (a cyclic process that mimics the way ecosystems recycle materials), and that at the end of their useful lives can be reintegrated seamlessly back into the natural environment. Each of these aspects (and other attendant ones) is examined in detail with regards to how they influence design and planning. The manual provides designers with a comprehensive set of strategies for approaching ecological design and planning combined with in-depth analysis and research material not found elsewhere. The book is not intended solely for design professionals but should also be of considerable interest and use to all those whose work impinges in one way or an other on the natural environment. The book consolidates and advances the theoretical and technical work of Ken Yeang in a text illustrated with over 300 diagrams, drawings and design examples. Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development by John Tillman Lyle - $112.95 Published by John Wiley, Oct 1996, paperback, 27.86x21.69cms, 352pages, 0471178438 – ONLY ONE AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE NEXT YEAR Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development is nothing less than a user's manual for planet Earth that integrates the principles of ecological design with practical realities better than anything I've read. John Lyle has written the best book now available on the theory and practice of sustainability . . . essential reading for natural resource professionals, architects, planners, educators, environmentalists, and the general public." — David W. Orr, Professor and Chair Environmental Studies Program, Oberlin College. “John Lyle has written a splendid book, Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development. It is perfectly topical; it is committed to the unity of art and science, design and planning, man and nature. It is itself exemplary, and it is a repository of exemplary adaptations. It has carried the environmental movement to a new threshold of ecological planning and design. It should be widely read and employed." — Ian L. McHarg, FASLA. “In these times of widespread urban stress and regional disruption, the cogent thoughts of John Tillman Lyle on sustainable cities are on target and highly constructive. They are must reading for planning professionals and all concerned citizens." — John Ormsbee Simonds, FASLA. "More designers need to broaden their horizons in the way John Lyle has put forth in this book. In general, there are far too few land planners, landscape architects, or architects who have any working procedure that approximates what sustainable design entails. This book provides important historical background and contemporary experience to help guide the way."— Pliny Fisk III, Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. From the despoliation of our rivers and lakes by industrial runoff to the destruction of our atmosphere by sulphure emissions and CFCs, production cycles based on a one-way flow of materials and energy have pushed us to the brink of environmental collapse. It is time for a change, and in this groundbreaking book, John Tillman Lyle offers us a blueprint for implementing that change. This book provides civil engineers, architects, land development planners, and others with practical, realistic approaches to reversing this deadly course. Throughout, the emphasis is on proven regenerative practices for water use, land use, energy use, and building design. Most importantly, it provides ways to reestablish connections between people and nature, between art and science, and between technology and daily life. Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development Winner, 1994 Merit Award for Communications, American Society of Landscape Architects. Innovation in Sustainable Housing: Tango: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners with SWECO FFNS Arkitekter AB by Michael Webb - $79.95 Published by Edizioni Press, Oct 2005, paperback, 22.96x22.96cms, 96 pages, 1931536384 Moore Rubel Yudell partnered with the Swedish firm of SWECO FFNS to design, Tango as their contribution to the 2001 housing exposition in Malmö. The name was inspired by the brilliant hues and dynamic body language used in the project. Eight vibrantly coloured steel and glass towers dance around a landscaped courtyard, exposing most of the living rooms to the outdoors, with a wall of bedrooms wrapped around three sides of the block. Each of the 27 apartments has a unique character, the block is self-sufficient in terms of energy, and everything from heating to door locks can be individually controlled from a computer keyboard. This volume brings the Tango project to life through bright colour photography, technical drawings, and lively text. Michael Webb's introduction follows the dramatic story behind the design process and embarks on an impressively crystalline description of the project itself. "The architects worked to simplify and enrich the scheme, achieving a syncopated rhythm of window openings and cladding panels in the exterior façades. Louvered concrete panels were placed horizontally and vertically. They evoke traditional wood clapboarding and catch the light, but the abstract patterns of concrete and glass, and the shallow projecting bays avoid any sense of a historical pastiche." Sustainable Living by Dominique Gauzin-Muller - $159.95 Published by Birkhauser, soon, 160pages, 3764374675 This is a lovely book and I highly recommend it. In the area of residential housing, a growing sensitivity to quality of life issues—thermal comfort, natural moisture exchange, freedom from hazardous substances—has made the development of eco-smart technology and materials an urgent concern. This book features detailed documentation for 25 sustainable residential structures from 5 continents, with considerable variety in size, materials, and locations among the individual projects. An appendix of useful addresses and contact information for the responsible architect and engineer is also included. Ten Shades of Green: Architecture and the Natural World by Peter Buchanan - $59.95 Published by Norton, Jan. 2006, hardback, 29.31x22.30cms, 128 pages, 0393731898 A compelling manifesto using 10 buildings to illustrate how environmental responsibility promises to reinvigorate contemporary architecture. Contemporary buildings, like contemporary forms of urban development, are major contributors to the environmental crisis. In this book documenting a major travelling exhibition organised by the Architectural League, curator and critic Peter Buchanan uses 10 buildings combining environmental responsibility and design excellence to argue that sustainability is not just good for the planet, but offers architects new opportunities for creativity and innovation. He shows that there is no single route to sustainability and no such thing as a green aesthetic. Rather, through a range of building types, he demonstrates that increased awareness of a building's setting combined with advances in technology create unlimited opportunities for responsive design. Generously illustrated with four-colour photographs and plans, the book includes work by Norman Foster, Neutelings Riedijk Architecten, Herzog + Partner, and Renzo Piano. 164 colour photos and line drawings. The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design (2ND ed.) by Sandra Mendler - $139.95 Published by John Wiley, Nov. 2005, hardback, 28.55x21.44cms, 459 pages, 0471696137 This comprehensive, updated edition of the definitive reference on sustainable design includes extensive new design process information, updated case studies, and post- occupancy evaluations organised to support use of the USGBC's LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Complete with practical tools and real-world examples, this hands-on reference for architects, engineers, planners, landscape architects, interior designers, construction contractors, building owners and operators includes: 18 case studies reflecting HOK's own application of sustainable design principles to real buildings, several with post-occupancy evaluations that demonstrate how sustainable design can be practical, cost-effective, and good for both buildings and business. "Ten Key Steps" provide a road map for the integrated multidisciplinary design process that is essential to successful sustainable design projects. Concise checklists of actions to consider at each step in the process, followed by detailed how-to information and guidance on best practices organized by the LEED® categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, and indoor environmental quality building type-specific guidance on how to apply sustainable design to airports, convention centres, correctional facilities, health care facilities, laboratories, museums, office buildings, and interiors. Sustainable Architectures by Guy Simon - $129.95 Published by Spons, Feb. 2005, paperback, 24.38x17.17cms, 269 pages, 0415700450 Buildings are responsible for 50% of C02 emissions and their design has become the focus of intense technical scrutiny. Knowing how to build more technically efficient, or more ecologically, and being able to assemble the social resources to do so requires different forms of knowledge and practice. There is wide contestation over the optimal pathways to greener buildings design and great diversity in practices of sustainable architecture. This edited book brings together leading researchers from across the European Union and North America to both illustrate the diversity of practice and to provide a critical commentary on this key debate. The reader is provided with an introduction to competing perspectives on the sustainable architecture debate; international exemplars of differing practice and an overview of new theoretical and methodological resources for understanding and meeting the conceptual, social and technical challenges of sustainable architecture. EcoNest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw, and Timber by Paula & Robert Baker-Laporte - $59.95 Published by Gibbs Smith, Sept. 2005, paperback, 24.59x24.79cms, 136pages, 158685691X EcoNest identifies homes designed and built respectfully, in appreciation of the harmony and beauty of nature and in a way that uses nature's resources so as to consume less energy, create less waste, nurture our health, and enrich our senses. Humans desire shelter that is cosy and nurturing, that satisfies the soul, mind, and body. An econest involves a timber frame and walls created with a mix of straw and clay, which avoids typical problems involved with conventional building, such as industrial waste, excessive chemical usage, and inefficient synthetic insulation. The authors explain how to avoid the pitfalls of modern homes and how to avoid acute chemical sensitivity, and they focus on how to simply live in harmony with nature. EcoNest profiles 10 different homes located around the USA, including a floor plan with interior and exterior photos for each. Chapters include Building with Light Straw/Clay, The Elements of EcoNest Design and Construction, and Eight Common Good Green Homes by Jennifer Roberts - $79.95 Published by Gibbs Smith, September 2003, hardback, 26.19x22.81cms, 160 pages 1586851799 With striking photographs and compelling profiles of real homes that are making a difference, this book celebrates the ways in which we can create places that are gorgeous, liveable, and more environmentally responsible. From a delightful cottage, an eco-friendly addition to an historic home, a trio of healthy and green city homes, an artist's studio on a wooded island, a vacation retreat in the wine country, a neighbourhood of homes that are small in size but large in spirit, a resourcefully remodelled Victorian flat, and more, the homes provide an inspiring array of today's sustainable building movement. Creating a green home doesn't require adhering to a particular architectural style or following a set of rigid rules. Good green homes simply mean better homes, homes remodelled or built to save energy and resources, homes that enhance our well-being rather than sap our strength, homes that honour the natural abundance and beauty that surrounds us. Good Green Homes lays out the principles of green building, from choosing a right-sized home to taking charge of the energy we use to selecting products that will keep our homes healthy, and more. It offers a wealth of practical suggestions for how we can start making changes that will put us on the road to a healthier and more environmentally sustainable future. Sustainable Homes: 26 Designs that Respect the Earth by James Grayson Trulove - $69.95 Published by Collins, April 2004, paperback, 27.99x21.64cms, 208pages, 0060594462 Sustainable Homes" puts to rest the stigma that "green architecture" is unattractive and unsuitable for residential architecture. For the houses shown in this volume represent design equal to or superior to most conventional houses. Each of these "eco" houses is unique. Some tread lightly on the site by nestling into the land. Others are designed to be extremely well suited to the climactic zones in which they are built. Many use materials that do no harm to the environment; materials that are recycled, salvaged, or harvested. The houses featured in this book are designed by today's top architects such as Obie Bowman, Fernau and Hartman, Hanrahan and Meyers, and Lake/Flato. They reveal how much the parameters of ecological design have expanded in just a few short years. Over 24 individual houses are featured, from locations as diverse as a Canadian cove to the Arizona desert, from Kansas plains to the Norwegian coast, from California bluffs to South Carolina wetlands, each described through descriptions, photographs, plans, drawings, and schematics. Third Generation Photovoltaics: Advanced Solar Conversions by Martin A. Green - $229.95 Published by Springer, Jan 2003, hardback, 24.18x16.41cms, 160pages, 3540401377 Photovoltaics, the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity, is now the fastest growing technology for electricity generation. Present "first generation" products use the same silicon wafers as in microelectronics. "Second generation" thin-films, now entering the market, have the potential to greatly improve the economics by eliminating material costs. Martin Green, one of the world’s foremost photovoltaic researchers, argues in this book that "second generation" Photovoltaics will eventually reach its own material cost constraints, engendering a "third generation" of high performance thin-films. The book explores, self-consistently, the energy conversion potential of advanced approaches for improving photovoltaic performance and outlines possible implementation paths. Sustainable Commercial Interiors by Penny Bonda & Katie Sosnowchik – $119.95 Published by John Wiley, Feb 2007, hardback, 23.77x20.42cms, 320pages, 0471749176 Not due until February 2007 but it might be worth the wait. In this book co-authors Penny Bonda, a noted expert on interior design and sustainability, and Katie Sosnowchik, an interior design editor and innovator, share their passion for environmental advocacy while offering designers and architects the technical knowledge important for success in this evolving discipline. The authors apply the concept of environmental responsibility to the design of interiors, and employ the organization of the LEED Green Building Rating System® to sort the design process into five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy issues, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Chapters explore: in-depth information about interior finishes and furnishings, best contemporary examples of sustainable commercial interior design projects, including photos and drawings of the design Outside-the-boundaries thinking about sites, water, and energy issues materials, with a strong emphasis on life-cycle thinking Indoor environmental quality, including acoustics, thermal comfort, day lighting, and views green design tools, including standards, certification programs, and specifications based on the premise that designers, with their power to create, have responsibilities beyond others, Sustainable Commercial Interiors is a vital tool for both novice and veteran green-minded practitioners. Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture by Gernot Minke - $119.95 Published by Birkhauser, November 2006, paperback, 28.04x21.95cms, 199 pages, 3764374772 For a number of years, the healthy and environment-friendly building material clay, in common use for thousands of years, has been enjoying increasing popularity, including in industrialized nations. In hot dry and temperate climate zones, clay offers numerous advantages over other materials. Its particular texture and composition also holds great aesthetic appeal. This handbook offers a practical systematic overview of the many uses of clay and techniques for processing it. Its properties and physical characteristics are described in informed and knowledgeable detail. The author’s presentation reflects the rich and varied experiences gained over 30 years of building earth structures in Germany and abroad. Numerous photographs of construction sites and drawings show the concrete execution of clay architecture. CPULs: Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes: Designing Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Cities by Andree Viljoen - $129.95 Published by Architectural Press, January 2005, paperback, 24.64x18.90cms, 280 pages, 0750655437 This is an important book that both challenges and contributes to current urban thinking. It is both inspiring and practical, reminding of us that sophisticated high density urban life can benefit from looking to examples from such places as the traditional Chinese city or current practice in Cuba to ways in which we can develop a more ecological and healthy way forward. If we are to be serious about sustainable urban development then these questions of greening the city and of local food production and distribution, are of immense importance. This is not a grand plan, but one that can be applied to both old and new areas in an incremental manner. It is now up to all of us to apply the lessons learnt with a sense of urgency wherever we may live. Continuity and productivity are intrinsic qualities of landscapes, which urban regions must reinstate for psychological, environmental and economic reasons. As an alternative to sprawl or hyper-density, Viljoen, Bohn, and Howe's vision is important, fleshed out enough to be debated productively. Reinforced with diverse essays by thinkers from differing countries and backgrounds, this book provides tangible concepts for regional adaptation. Sustainability at the Cutting Edge by Peter Smith - $49.95 Published by Architectural Press, Nov 2002, paperback, 20.78x15.29cms, 192pages, 0750656786 This is your first point of reference in understanding the future direction of sustainable technology. It introduces the very latest in practical sustainability techniques and illustrates the diverse technologies being developed to create optimum eco-efficiency in our built environment. Peter F. Smith takes you through the current research and prototypes which will affect every feature of the evolution of building design. As sustainable building becomes increasingly essential - with the advent of climate change, government legislation and international treaties - this is valuable knowledge for every architect, engineer and designer who wishes their designs to be both responsive and cutting edge. With information from the leaders in their fields, this book is a comprehensive reference to the emerging technologies for this innovative approach to design. * Learn about the future of sustainable technology * Gain a knowledge about the newest designs and details of the built environment * Benefit from the inside knowledge and expertise of the author Energy Efficient Buildings: Architecture, Engineering, and Environment by Dean Hawkes - $149.95 Published by Norton, July 2002, hardback, 30.02x24.08cms, 240pages, 0393730921 This brightly illustrated and photographed volume addresses how architects and engineers collaborate in the process of environmental control in buildings. From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, these professionals began to work together to achieve new standards of comfort within buildings and, consequently, to bring about a fundamental transformation in the nature of architecture. The authors' introduction traces the historical development of the environmental strand of architectural theory and practice, establishing a background for critical studies of international contemporary buildings including the Study Centre at Darwin College in Cambridge, England; the Beyeler Foundation Museum in Basel, Switzerland; and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum in Houston, Texas. Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism: Design, Construction, Examples by Dominique Gauzin-Muller - $179.95 Published by Princeton, July 2002, hardback, 3764366591 Since the mid-1980s, and in particular the 1992 environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro, sustainability has become a global issue and the subject of international debate. In the context of architecture sustainability implies the use of intelligent technology, innovative construction methods, ecologically friendly materials and use of environmentally-friendly energy resources. This book begins with an overview of the various approaches and developments in sustainable architecture, followed by an in-depth section on urbanism looking at several European towns. In the third section the technologies, materials and methods of ecological architecture are examined. Concluding the volume are 23 sophisticated and innovative European case studies. The author and architect Dominique Gauzin-Miller has specialised on energy and environmental issues and ecological architecture for over 15 years. Proceed and Be Bold: Rural Studio After Samuel Mockbee by Dean, Andrea Oppenheimer - $69.95 Published by Princeton, Feb. 2005, paperback, 25.45x18.90cms, 176pages, 1568985002 In 1992 Samuel Mockbee launched the Rural Studio to create homes and community buildings for the poor while offering hands-on architecture training for coming generations. Choosing impoverished Hale County, Alabama, for his bold experiment, Mockbee and his Auburn University students peppered this left-behind corner of the rural South with striking buildings of exceptional design. Most use recycled and curious materials: hay bales, surplus tires, leftover carpet tiles, even discarded 1980 Chevy Caprice windshields. The publication of "Rural Studio brought this innovative work to the public, and, "five printings later", continues to affect the way people view architecture. Since Mockbee's death in 2001, the Rural Studio has continued to thrive, a tribute to its founder's vision. In 2004, the American Institute of Architects posthumously awarded Mockbee its highest honour, the Gold Medal for Architecture. Under Mockbee's successor, Andrew Freear, the studio has seeded southwest Alabama with an additional seventeen architectural landmarks, and all are shown here. With thoughtful text from Andrea Oppenheimer Dean and stunning photographs by Timothy Hursley, this new book explains the changes the studio has undergone during the last four years and its continuing ability to "proceed and be bold," as Mockbee counselled. Strategies for Sustainable Architecture by Paola Sassi – $169.95 Published by Taylor & Francis, August 2006, 304 pages, 0415341426 Filling a gap in existing literature on sustainable design, this new guide introduces and illustrates sustainable design principles through detailed case studies of sustainable buildings in Europe, North America and Australia. The guide will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the design issues involved in delivering sustainable buildings, and giving detailed description of the process of integrating principles into practice. One hundred buildings, ranging from small dwellings to large commercial buildings, and drawn from a range of countries, demonstrate best current practice. The sections of the book are divided into design issues relating to sustainable development, including site and ecology, community and culture, health, materials, energy, and water. With over 400 illustrations, this highly visual guide is an invaluable reference to all those concerned with architecture and sustainability. Sustainable Urban Development Volume 1 by Stephen Curwell - $139.95 Published by Routledge, Nov. 2005, paperback, 23.62x17.78cms, 257 pages, 0415322154 This book examines models of sustainable development and sets out the framework for analysing urban development and the sustainability issues this gives rise to. It examines the protocols (planning, property development, design, construction and operational activities) developed to address the issues and provides a directory of environmental assessment methods currently available. Environmental assessment methods are being transformed in the evaluation of the environmental, economic and social sustainability of urban development. This book draws attention to the web-based nature of the environment in which these methods are being applied and covers issues of communication and use of information technology in the support decision process. Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery by Charles Kibert - $139.95 Published by John Wiley, March 2005, hardback, 24.38x19.00cms, 434 pages, 0471661139 The definitive guide to the green building process. Focusing on green building as it applies to larger commercial, institutional buildings; this book provides a complete introduction to the design and construction of high-performance green buildings. By providing a thorough grounding on the subject, this insightful guide encourages readers to realize the ecological and economic benefits of green building. Sustainable Construction uses the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) suite of standards to explain the best practices in building procurement and delivery systems. Providing a detailed overview of the entire process of green building, Sustainable Construction covers the theory, history, state of the industry, and best practices in green building. This insightful reference provides a solid foundation on the topic, which readers can use to test any of the myriad decisions that have to be made in design and construction, from materials selection to considering the use of natural systems for wastewater processing. Written for industry professionals, building owners, and real estate developers, Sustainable Construction provides professionals with a much-needed, comprehensive reference on this environmentally friendly process. |
John Balasoglou of Aalto Books specialises in architectural books.
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